26th – 30th August 2019: At school, on time, present in class, working to a goal, doing your best
The title of this blog gives a good clue to what is to come but hopefully it gives some useful pointers.
At school, on time, present in class: people who are successful tend to be the ones who work hardest and practice with purpose.
- There is which speaks of needing 10,000 hours to master a skill (here is a link to an 8 minute summary of the book ‘Outliers’ on the subject- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXCWF60jWvo).
- Other research suggest it can be less if we do what is called deliberate practice – not just working harder or more but focusing your efforts on specific things (again here is a link to a 7 minute summary of deliberate practice – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoUHlZP094Q&t=29s).
The clear message is that the more quality time you put in the better the results. To be successful we need pupils to attend school, to be in class on time and to come to revision sessions and to practice purposefully at home. It was good to see an improvement in our exam results in August and it was no surprise to see we also had an improvement in our school attendance figures.
Not only do we need pupils to be physically at school we also need them to be ‘present’ when they are in class. Not hiding away or gazing out the window but actively taking part and engaged in the learning:
- phones switched off and brains switched on.
- being well nourished (water and fruit rather than energy drinks and sweets)
- well rested (sleep the night before and some fresh air at break time)
Working to a goal and doing your best: When I am speaking to pupils who are misbehaving or ones who are underachieving they largely fall into 2 camps.
- The first camp are those who know exactly what they are going to do in the future and cannot see a point in school – when I taught at Fraserburgh this would be those who knew they would be going to work on the fishing boats and when I taught at Alford it was the ones who were going to work on a farm. They were clear that school could not teach them what they needed. Sadly the jobs on the land and the boats dried up and I have met many who ended up paying to go to college to get the qualifications they could have got years earlier. But this camp can be stubborn, after all what does a teacher know about life in the real world? What I know is that when the real world changes having qualifications can help you change your plans
- The second camp are those with no idea of what they want to do or where their talents lie. They drift along with patchy attendance and with no focus/purpose whilst at school. Growing ever older older but not growing very much wiser. Over the years we have tried many ways to engage with this group and I highly recommend the My World of Work website to families of pupils of all ages as a place to get advice, ideas and inspiration https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/ to find out more here is a link to an introductory 3 minute video of the site https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=my+world+of+work&&view=detail&mid=50463CD6BC69489335EF50463CD6BC69489335EF&&FORM=VRDGAR
It is impossible to do your best if you do not care about the outcome – successful pupils are the ones who have a clear goal, who do care and who are bothered about turning up and doing well. Because they have that goal they are determined to do the best they can and produce their best work, on time, first time every time.
Groupcall Xpressions – Help us to improve our communications
A reminder that this term we are going to begin to send information home though Groupcall so that we can communicate better with parents and carers. This has begun with our Home School Information Forms (HSIFs) which are sent home when a teacher has information that they feel is important to share.
The best way to make sure you get our communications is to download the Groupcall Xpressions app. This will mean that:
- Xpressions shows a timeline of messages/message history from the school.
- You will get notifications of new messages if you stay logged in to the app
All you need to do is
- Search for Groupcall Xpressions from your app store to download the app.
- You can also visit xpressions.groupcall.com to view your account from an internet browser.
To login in you need to use the e-mail address and telephone number that we hold for you in our system. If you install the Xpressions app, we will send you a Groupcall text next week to let you know the information we hold for you.
If you do not have the app installed, we will continue to communicate by e-mail where possible but we cannot notify you when communications are sent.
Car Park Safety
Following improvements to site security our pupils must use the front car park to enter and leave the school building. This increases the risk of an accident either in our car park or on Albyn Place and I ask all parents to support us in reducing these risks to our pupils. Parents should not use the Harlaw car park or Albyn Place as a drop off/pick up point for children at the beginning or end of the school day. Please arrange to drop off/meet your child in a quieter street close to the school. If you need to use the school car park for health reasons please contact the office.
Harlaw Uniform
If you are looking to stock up on Harlaw Academy uniform items please click the link below for full details of our uniform policy and where to buy it:-
SQA Post Results Service 2019
The SQA Post Results service is available to centres after results day on 6 August 2019.
If a centre is concerned by a candidate’s result in a subject, it can request a clerical check and/or a marking review of the candidate’s submissions for that subject.
What is a Clerical Check?
A clerical check is an administrative check that is designed to ensure that:
- all parts of the candidate’s submission have been marked and
- the marks given for each answer have been totalled correctly
- the correct result has been entered on SQA’s software
What is a Marking Review?
A marking review is undertaken by examiners and involves the consideration of a
candidate’s materials submitted to SQA for marking to ensure that:
- all parts of the submission have been marked
- the marking is in line with the national standard
- the marks given for each answer have been totalled correctly, and
- the correct result has been entered on SQA’s software
Criteria for Post-results service
In line with SQA guidance Harlaw Academy must ensure that access to the Post-results Service is done in a fair, equitable and consistent manner.
- Harlaw Academy will only submit a Post-results Service requests where we are of the view that the candidate’s certificated grade is at odds with the assessment evidence gathered during the course, and that it is out of line with the performance of other candidates with similar profiles.
- The decision on whether to submit a request will take into account all of the candidate’s work during the year and is not based solely on the estimate grade.
- Post-results service requests will be considered where the candidate’s certificated grade is at least 2 bands lower than predicted based on the totality of assessment evidence for the course.
- The final decision on whether to submit Post-results service requests will be taken by the Head Teacher in liaison with the SQA Co-ordinator and the relevant Faculty Head.
Parents and pupils are advised that Post Results-service requests will not be made for any of the following reasons:-
- a candidate’s entry to college or university is dependent on a re-grade
- a candidate’s component marks place their result close to a grade boundary
- the candidate or their parents offer to pay any costs arising from the request
Parents and pupils are also advised that a Clerical Check or Marking Review can lead to a change of grade either up or down.
Key Dates
| Post-results Services open | 6 August 2019 |
| Priority marking review request deadline (for candidates with a current conditional university/college offer) | 16 August 2019 |
| Results of priority marking reviews | 26 August 2019 |
| Marking review and clerical check deadline | 27 August 2019 |
| Results of clerical checks and marking reviews | 27 September 2019 |
Charges
SQA will charge Harlaw Academy for all Post-results Service requests where the candidate’s grade remains unchanged following the clerical check and/or marking review. These costs are met by the school.
If would like further information on the SQA Post-results service please see the SQA website
National Parent Forum of Scotland social media leaflet
19th – 23rd August 2019 – Starting out on a successful journey
Our staff: Staff really appreciated the chance to have two in-service days to start the term and I think this ensured we got off to a very productive start with the pupils from the Wednesday.
When we had one day it tended to involve dumping a lot of information on staff at a whole staff meeting in the morning and leaving them little time in the afternoon to be ready for the pupils returning. With the extra day we were able to have a very clear focus on learning and teaching on day 1 setting out our expectations clearly and briefly before giving staff time to work on this for the bulk of the day. On the second day we had a strong focus on the needs of individual learners and safeguarding again setting things out clearly at the start of the day and giving staff time to ensure learning was adapted to individual pupils.
As well as having time to prepare staff I also had time to send a letter out to parents intended to help them to play their part in preparing the pupils if you missed the letter it is accessible here: Parent Letter Aug 2019
We welcomed several new members of staff to the school and I shall let parents know who and in which departments through group call. The good news is that we we have almost all of our teaching and non teaching vacancies filled.
Our Parents: Our parents working with pupils have done really well to provide finance to deliver on a pupil wish to have more equipment in the playgrounds and also different sorts of safe areas to play in, As a result over summer all of our gates were upgraded, meaning pupils are now safer in their playgrounds, and almost £15,000 of equipment, markings, goals and benches were installed. On Wednesday to Friday we had dry weather and it was fantastic to see the youngsters out making use of the new areas. The photos also show all the pupils wearing their school uniforms and the importance of then showing their uniforms within the school and grounds.
Our pupils: There was a real joy to welcoming pupils back from the summer break. They are delighted to meet up with their classmates, they all seem more grown up than when we saw them in early July and they were most excited to see the improvements made to their school (in addition to the playgrounds and secure gates we had painted a few classes and changing areas). Our new prefects and buddies were enthusiastically helping our new S1 pupils to settle into their new surroundings and everyone I met was excited to be back and to do well this session. Over the course of Wednesday we held assemblies for every year group. These assemblies had two elements to them and this is reflected in the presentation attached here: Assemblies August 2019. The first 3 slides in the presentation allowed me to say a little bit about the school; its story going back over 140 years, its values, the meanings of the badge and the present day vision and values we have developed together. the next 3 slides allowed Mr Blance and Mrs Lawrence to speak about each of our 3 respect statements (people, learning and community) and say a little about what we improved last year and what our ambitions were for this year. the final slide let me speak a little about children’s’ rights and to link what we had been saying to particular rights which each child should enjoy in school and beyond. I made the point that all too often it was other children who stopped them from enjoying their rights and we all had to think about how what we say and do can cause harm to others and their education and well being.
When I contact families with the names of new staff I will also share the assembly presentation and ask them to go over this at home. I want the youngsters and their families to tell, share and feel part of the unique history of their school and adding their unique story to the overall successes of the diverse, inclusive and supportive community that makes up Harlaw Academy.
6th August 2019 – SQA results
Across Scotland young people received news of their SQA results today Tuesday 6th August. I want to use this blog for 3 purposes; to say thank you to those who helped prepare our pupils for today, to give families a broad indication of how the school got on. Other items on the website indicate who to contact if you have any questions/concerns about the results.
Thank you: Preparations for SQA exams involves a great many people all who deserve to be acknowledged. The pupils, their families and their teachers will have shown the keenest interest in the results which are a measure of performance against a National Standard. Thinking back over the year there are also numerous non teaching staff who have contributed to the coursework and the exams running smoothly. Amongst these are our pupil support assistants, technicians, office staff, janitors, librarian, canteen staff and cleaners. We also had a team of invigilators who ensured pupils were calm on the day and the exams ran smoothly. Some of our pupils also benefit from the support of a counsellor, a youth worker, a home school worker and a careers adviser all who help individual pupils to develop the confidence, resilience and sense of purpose needed to complete coursework or sit an examination. A key person who links between the school and SQA is Laura Murray our School Support Services Manager her co-ordination of everything needed to run the exams and ensure all of the information is submitted on time is crucial. All of these people and more deserve a massive thank you for ensuring that the pupils at Harlaw Academy were well prepared for their SQA exams and were able to receive their exam results earlier today.
How the school got on: We will not have a full analysis of the data until later this month. Indeed it will not be until mid/late September until we get detailed analysis in relation to National data. However, we have had a brief look at the headline figures for Harlaw. In broad terms our National 5 (level 5) results are a good bit better than 2018 and our Higher (level 6) results are also better than the 2018 results for Harlaw Academy – the actual figures for Harlaw Academy are shown here SQA results summary 2019 . We have been working hard for a few years to increase expectations of all pupils and to bring in alternative courses to better meet the needs of all pupils. It can however take time for the hard work to produce results and as a result I had hoped we would see modest improvement in some measures this session. To see improvement across all the main measures and such big improvement in level 5 is really encouraging.
I wish to close with 3 general points about the day the SQA results come out:
- The news today tends to focus on National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher results. In truth there are a range of other qualifications our pupils are presented for which did not make the news today but are every bit as important. These are often not assessed by a formal examination (National 3 and 4, National Progression Awards and some college courses and apprenticeships) but are set at a level which in some cases is equivalent to these. We need pupils, parents and employers to recognise the value of these courses many of which have strong vocational element which suits the talents of some youngsters more than traditional academic subject.
- Over the years we have got much better at predicting the results pupils will achieve. As a result fewer pupils are surprised by the results on the day. Some individuals will be disappointed with their results and I encourage them to come back and try to improve or to speak with us about moving on to a different pathway where they can find success. Some may be pleasantly surprised and again I encourage them to speak with us about how this might change the pathway they were thinking of following in August.
- Whatever the results which came out today the 2019 SQA exams are over. For all of us what matters is how we move on. For the youngsters who chose to return to school we will be looking to continue to improve and build on the success of 2019. For those who decide to move on we urge you to set yourself ambitious goals for whatever you decide to do next. Finally for anyone who is still not sure what to do next please get in contact with ourselves of Skills Development Scotland. We are here to help you to be the best you can be.
SQA Results Day 2019
Tuesday the 6th August is SQA results day and your certificate should arrive at your address. If you have signed up for MySQA you’ll also get your results from 8 am.
If you think something is wrong with your certificate or you have concerns over your results you can contact the school by telephone on 01224 589251 on the 6th and 7th August from 10 am to 12 pm. If you can’t get through because the lines are busy you can e-mail the school harlawacademy@aberdeencity.gov.uk or our SQA Co-ordinator lamurray@aberdeencity.gov.uk and we will get back to you.
The Harlaw school office will be staffed from Monday the 12th August onwards and you can call in as normal on 01224 589251 or come into school to see us.
If you are coming back to school in August and have unexpected results that may lead to a change of course you can discuss this with your Guidance teacher when we return. Arrangements for how and when to see your Guidance teacher will be discussed at form time on Wednesday 21st August.
If you have left school additional support is available form Skills Development Scotland (see below):
1st – 5th July 2019: A true story of summer adventures
This week teachers and pupils have been maintaining a high pace of work before a well deserved break.
At 3.05 on Friday there was great excitement as the youngsters left for their summer holidays. I hope there will be similar excitement when teachers return (on Monday 19th August) and when pupils start back (on Wednesday 20th August).
Summer offers the opportunity to explore, either locally or further afield, and try new or different things. I am sure we will have our memories of long hot summers. I spent my Primary School years in the Ferryhill area of Aberdeen before moving to Hazlehead for my secondary school years. In the Ferryhill years there was great adventure to be had around the Duthie/Albury Parks, the old railway sidings and the numerous allotments and old industrial buildings (around what is now Strawberry Bank). The Hazlehead years introduced me to all the adventures to be had around Denburn and Hazlehead. There must have been many days when my mum was worried sick about where I was, what I was up to and what time I might be back for tea.
I remember going to the Bon Accord Baths, when they were still open, with some friends. We were around 10-11 years old and that day we dared each other to go onto the diving boards. For a few of my friends the springboard and first diving board were the limit but some of us were much braver than that.
Off up the steps we went, the second board seemed high but off we all went. By the third board I was starting to think this was not a great idea particularly as the boldest in our group disappeared over the end of the board and seemed to take an age before exploding into the water. The other 5 of us were clearly all thinking the same and nobody was looking brave enough to be next to go. By now our brave leader had surfaced and was on his way back up. His best pal made the decision to go for it whilst two others backed down and took the walk of shame back and jumped in from the lower a lower board.
This left two of us timidly weighing up the impossible situation – fear vs shame. By now the brave first diver had come back up, he bragged about his experience and told us there was no way to back down. He would help us overcome our fears – starting with me. I timidly went towards the edge under his helpful guidance, I looked down and was in no doubt what I had to do retreat gracefully and take the steps down to the group of shame. My friend had other ideas, he gave me a shove and I hit the water belly first! As I bobbed back to the surface I had done it.
By now my other friend had climbed down and the first two were heading for the top board. As I was getting out of the pool with my tingly pink belly/chest they were urging me up to join them. Not a chance, I had already been reluctantly pushed into something I did not feel comfortable doing and was not going to put myself in that position again. I was the bravest of the cowards and that was good enough for me.
My true story above offers some learning points:
- take the opportunities summer offers to try new things
- be willing to go to the edge of where you feel comfortable and push through if you can
- but be mindful of those who may push you into something you really do not want to do
Have an adventure over summer, stay safe and return full of excitement in the latter part of August.
24th – 28th June 2019: New faces and thanks
New S1: On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we welcomed our new S1 pupils to their school. We were delighted with the very settled way they went about things and look forward to welcoming them back in August. Part of the reason for the visits going so well was the support our visitors received from their senior “buddies”. We have a very good group of seniors and they were brilliant role models for our new pupils.
Pupil leadership: Being a “buddy” is one of many leadership roles pupils can have in the school. Every form class has 4 class representatives to take forward a particular aspect of school improvement. Each house has a House captain who is appointed by application form and interview. Seniors can also apply to be prefects and this year we will have around 40 of these this year. There is also a Head and Depute Head Prefects who this year were appointed through a group task and interview overseen by myself, the year head for S6 and the Head and Depute Head Prefects from last year. I am delighted to confirm that Kate Farquharson was appointed Head Prefect and that Finn Allan and Chris Akamhenze will be the Depute Head Prefects. These roles mean that almost 25% of our pupils have a formal role in leadership and school improvement and this year I am keen to see how they can work with their peers to make things even better at the school.
Important week: NE schools seem to be a bit later than the rest of the country going on holiday and a bit later returning in August. This means that we will no sooner back than we will be into September. That means this is an important work week for staff and pupils. It is not a time to slacken off before summer because if we do we will start the new session playing catch up. I know teachers plan to use this week to do some important work and we need pupils to be in class and switched on to work hard this week before having a bit of time off. Staff return on Monday 19th August and this and Tuesday 20th August are in-service days. Pupils return for 8.30 start on Wednesday 21st August.
Thank you: There has been a lot of very good work done by staff and pupils over this session and both groups will be ready for a summer break. I want to thank parents for your support over the session. For families of youngsters moving on from school can I wish you every success in the future and if ever you need our help please keep in contact. I look forward to seeing everyone else in August.